WORCESTER — Among the paper hearts, hanging garlands, and roses adorning the window of the Flower Stop on Stafford Street rests a pair of toy polar bears.

They're especially fitting for this Valentine's Day, when florists are likely to be carting around snow shovels and salt as they deliver holiday bouquets, balloons, teddy bears and chocolates around the area. Worcester is forecast to be hit with about 10 inches of heavy snow today.

"Tomorrow is just out for us," said Janet Schreiner at French Bouquet Florist on Shrewsbury Street on Wednesday. "We're trying to plan ahead ... if we don't have to be on the road we try not to be."

In anticipation of the storm, Flower Stop owner Maureen Szczurko called customers who were scheduled for Thursday deliveries to ask if they wouldn't mind them a day earlier.

"We're asking people to be a little patient," she said, quickly snipping the stems of red, white and pink roses and organizing them in a vase.

One of her customers was John Flaherty of Southbridge, who works for a company that is subcontracted by the city of Worcester to plow the streets.

Walking out with a $125 bouquet of red roses and white lilies for his girlfriend, Melissa Iozzo, he explained that because he knows the rest of the week will be hectic, "I'm trying to be proactive."

The National Weather Service predicted Worcester will see up to 10 inches of snow over 24 hours starting at 7 a.m. today.

Meteorologist Matthew Belk said the snow will be wet and therefore heavier and more difficult to remove.

"It will be similar in quality to what we saw last week," he said.

As for Friday, he said, the snow will likely clear up in the early hours, but "it wouldn't surprise me if we were to see a sting in the tail," meaning that as the last of the storm passes over, snowfall could become heavier for a short time.

The Department of Public Works will "keep the roads clear if they don't have to get around you," he said, advising people to stay off the roads if they are at all uncomfortable driving in the snow or if they can otherwise help it.

Although it is their busiest time of year, florists are heeding that message.

"We're trying not to make any deliveries" today with the exception of some that will be delivered to local hospitals, which are easier to get to, said Ms. Szczurko.

That seems to be the trend for other florists in Worcester, though most will be open for customers who want to pick up their flowers.

Therefore, many of those who were scheduled for Thursday delivery will instead have their flowers delivered to loved ones on Friday, adding to the dozens of others scheduled for the holiday.

"On Friday it should be better," Ms. Szczurko said of the snow, but added that as the shop usually starts deliveries to offices about 7 a.m. — the same time the storm is forecast to leave the area — it might need to wait for the roads to be cleared.

"I've been doing this for 25 years," she said. "We know how to handle (deliveries in the snow). If people are going to be home we tend to go a little bit later."

Sandy Michalak, office manager at Herbert E. Berg Florist on Blackstone River Road, said Wednesday afternoon she was making her way through the list of 73 customers who had been scheduled for Thursday deliveries in order to reschedule.

"Hopefully the storm goes by quickly," Ms. Michalak said. The business will have six drivers to deliver more than 200 arrangements on Friday.

With likely the largest fleet in the city, Perro's Flowers on Grafton Street is planning to have as many as 10 drivers making deliveries Friday to keep up with the orders.

"You just pray that you can get them all out," said Debbie Perro. "We might have to call in some friends."

The business typically has up to 100 deliveries the day before the holiday, she said. "Of course that's all going to be put off until Friday," she said.

"It's a big day," she said. "We hope (the city) is diligent with snow removal."

Contact Alli Knothe at allison.knothe@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @KnotheA